So, two days after the initial assault. Interesting… Was your diet on point over the weekend?
Another thought, have you ever been evaluated for a hiatal hernia? If not, that might be something to explore…
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99% the same as the stuff I showed in the food diary. I have a baseline of symptoms that are always there but have days where it’s worse. These more severe symptoms were almost 72hours after I indulged in the food I usually wouldn’t, but I also seem to get these days when my diet has been quite the same. I put it down to the lack of sleep/maybe increased stress because of that? It’s worth mentioning even before the burp/reflux started during my gym session, I had a sweet taste in my saliva/mucus I could weirdly feel covering me right from the end of my digestive tract right up to my sinuses. I even feel like I could smell it in my stool. (apologies for people not following this thread for digestive commentary. QuadQueen has been so nice as to try to help me out with a few problems I am having)
On the hiatal hernia question. I’ve had 2 endoscopies (first one showed a slightly inflamed duodonem but nothing for concern, second one was 100% clear). Would they not show a hernia if I did have one?
Didn’t take ZMAs yesterday. Fell asleep on the sofa at 9pm-12:15am, went straight to bed and slept through til 6:30am. THAT was a strong sleep of over 9hours Maybe I just shouldn’t bother playing with ZMA. 
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There’s definitely something to this. Sleep and stress are kind of a big deal…
This is common with reflux - the saliva part anyway, it’s the acid and the enzymes in your mouth. The stool part is a little concerning… that’s often indicative to C. diff which I feel like you’d be having more harsh symptoms if you had. It may be a good move for you to see if your doc would do a stool analysis just to make sure there’s not something going on that hasn’t been tested for.
Yeah, sorry guys - dietitians like to talk about poop. lol
They can, it might not be a bad idea to have a repeat since there was some inflammation on that first one. Also, ask about having a barium swallow X-ray and potentially a high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) test.
I feel like there’s something going on here. There should be some relief with diet/lifestyle changes if it’s just reflux without an underlying cause. It might not be a bad idea to start asking some bigger questions and possibly get a referral to a different and/or more specialized gastroenterologist.
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I do feel it is maybe worse when I have a bad night’s sleep but have never noticed increased symptoms when I am particularly anxious about anything. Everything for everyone feels worse after a bad night’s sleep though doesn’t it? Heh.
I have had two stool tests come back clear. One in 2012, one in 2018. I should definitely try to get a more recent endoscopy though. The other two tests were never offered to me.
Is it possible that this being in my sinuses may just be distorting my smell?
This gets a little crazy, but as good a time as any to share. May delete this at a later date…
When various tests kept coming back clear I was told it was all in my head and put on anti-depressants. After I told them the anti-depressants were making me feel like a zombie and not relieving my symptoms in the slightest, I was trialed on 2-3 others until I was eventually put on anti-psychotics which REALLY messed me up. It was at this point I lost my head a bit, the symptoms and lack of relief really got on top of me emotionally. I went from a 22-year-old loving life to constantly having the wind taken out of my sails by these symptoms I couldn’t put a label on, the frustration within me was at the highest of magnitudes. I refused to take the anti-psychotics any longer and was severely depressed. It was at that point I was sectioned against my will, spending some time in a mental hospital. It was the worst 6 weeks of my life - it would be hard to define what I went through there. Eventually I was cleared of having any assumed mental illness, and discharged from the hospital. I was declared that mentally stable I didn’t even have any of the aftercare stuff that is the usual protocol. I did engage with a bit of CBT though, only to be discharged from that a couple of months later. Now any time I see a doctor they see that in my history and it’s labeled as health anxiety. If it wasn’t for online communities reading about other people’s stories when it comes to digestive issues and not being really listened to, I would feel completely alone. Thankfully I do not.
Fast forward to now and I am almost a decade deep in feeling that I was failed by the health system, and proceed on trying to solve my problems myself; wasting money on supplements, reading books, and studying various things about nutrition. I’ve even managed to solve many of my friend’s problems! A big positive that has come from all this is I found the gym. It gave me the tools to continue to fight. Emotionally I deal with the strain of my symptoms better than I ever have but it is still really difficult at times. I have too much fight in me to ever give up, those good days I get are there for a reason and I will find out why. And QuadQueen… even if this overwhelms you and you deem me unsolvable, I appreciate you all the same.
Maybe a bit of oversharing, maybe not 100% relevant, and very likely I delete it, but it’s nice to let it out sometimes.
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WOW! I am sorry you went through that. Having anxiety/OCD in my chart has also made doctors overly eager to dish out the meds without ever trying to actually help me.
I went in like “I think my hormones are unbalanced” Ah, yes… here are some anxiety meds.
LIKE WTF< not everything is anxiety! But it’s sure easy for them to say it is and move on!
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I hear you. At this point I feel like I could go in with a broken ankle and I’d get told it’s depression. 
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19-01-23
OHP
57.5kg x 6
52kg x 9 (some kid went a bit close to me to grab a plate off the rack and ruined the set as I paused for too long - reracked, ~20-30sec rest) + 3 more reps
46kg x 12 (long grind in last 5% of movement for rep 13, gave in, disappointed but it’s still more than last week I guess).
DB Bench
40kg x 8
40kg x 8
40kg x 8
40kg x 7
Lat raises (2sec hold)
10kg x 11
10kg x 10
10kg x 9
Machine Chest Press
85kg x 11
85kg x 10
85kg x 9
Rope pulldown
27.5kg x 12
27.5kg x 12
27.5kg x 12
Ez bar curls
40kg x 11
40kg x 10
40kg x 9
Started off poorly with too many distractions in the gym and too many kids wandering around (they really need to set a limit on the number of people they let in). I didn’t really expect to get the 7 on the first set but I did expect a better performance on the back-off sets. After that 2nd set disaster, it’s hard to really know, but in my mind I’ll take that little rest-pause as a little bit more volume and consider it a step forward still. DB Bench the sets of 8 felt way smoother than last week which is awesome, so much I decided not to go for a 9th rep grinder, but add another set instead. I really enjoy the feeling of owning a weight that used to intimidate me. In the past when I’ve done things like this, the extra little bit of volume always helped me progress the following week.
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This totally makes sense and is a trigger for reflux - so it’s not just you, it’s real!!
Yep, it’s been 4-5 years since your last eval. It’s time for another check-in for sure. When you go, maybe ask about the swallow test and the HRM - just to see if they’d be open to running them for you.
YES!!! Do you have chronic sinus issues or is this just a seasonal or right now issue? If it’s a chronic thing, I’d guess that you likely have some environmental and/or food allergies/intolerances. Whether this is histamines or something else would need to be determined.
I am so sorry that you went through all of that. That is terrible and you definitely did nothing to deserve it. I’m glad you’ve found support and I will always be here to support and help you too. I’m on your side and will do whatever I can to advocate for you. If you need me to talk to a doctor or intervene in any way - I can do that for you. You are not alone!
Get it out! I’m so glad you shared. Your story is important. We all have one, it takes a BIG person to be brave enough to share theirs. Hang in there. You are not alone!!!
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On the plus side I do feel a little better today. Not half as sore anyway.
Honestly it’s hard to know. Whether it’s just reflux coming up so high and inflaming it all, or something else. I have tried flonase and regularly take an anti-histamine but it doesn’t really help. Which came first, chicken or the egg situation. I did see see an ENT doctor through all this too which I forgot to mention, stuck a little something in my nose having a look around and that was clear too.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. Thank you ever so much.
Yeah it’s nice to share, I just taught myself not to too much because without being able to put a label on it I do sound like a bit of a headcase. Refusing certain foods and drink from people can be a funny one, for all my feelings over IBS being a blanket statement that doesn’t really tell anyone much, it’s my goto blanket statement for when people ask “why?” too.
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Just weighed myself. I’m 2 months into the bulk and up around 7lb. If I account for the quick 2lb regain I got due to water weight etc, it’s 5lb in 8 weeks. That works out at 0.625lb a week. I’m pretty frickin’ happy with that!
Considering that much of this was over the Christmas period with a little bit of drinking, a lot of meals out, and 3 weeks’ break from football coaching… I’m really pleased with how well I managed my calorie intake.
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Forgot to post yesterdays workout!
21-01-23
Squat
130kg x 7
117.5kg x 10
104kg x 15
RDL
132.5kg x 9
132.5kg x 9
Close-grip neutral pulldowns
77.5kg x 12
77.5kg x 10
77.5kg x 9 - failed 10
Leg extensions
67.5kg x 17
67.5kg x 13
67.5kg x 12
One-arm cable row
95kg x 11
95kg x 11
95kg x 12
A great day. +1 on top squat set, +1 on first back off where I could’ve easily done +2, and a +2 on final back off. 15 rep squat set, can’t remember the last time I did that!
RDLs were nice too. I was adding 2.5kg and aiming for 7-9. Didn’t expect to hit the top end of the rep range straight away! Another 2.5kg to add next week. 
Re-introduced close-grip neutral pulldowns as I’ve been getting a bit cheaty the last couple of times I’ve done lat pulldowns. Rather than continue to cheat or go backward fixing it, thought that now is as good a time as any to rotate. I started with the weight/reps lighter than what I feel I can handle but focused on getting a massive stretch, pretty much shrugging at the top with a slow eccentric. I’m not sure if I’ll continue like that for the rest of the time they’re in the program but it felt good to just concentrate on the muscles themselves instead of worrying about what I’m lifting.
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23-01-23
Bench
100kg x 5
90kg x 10
80kg x 12 or 13. Lost count. Silly me.
Seated DB Press
28kg x 10
28kg x 8
28kg x 9
28kg x 5
Weighted Dips 15kg
11
12
Pushups
29
Machine Shoulder Press
45kg x 10
45kg x 10
45kg x 8
Overhead triceps extension (swapped to rope)
25kg x 14
25kg x 12
25kg x 12
Incline curls 45°
16kg x 12
16kg x 11
16kg x 10
Almost talked myself out of going today with the excuse of “not feeling great”. Ended up having a banger of a session! Hit everything I wanted and more. 100kg x 5 was piss easy, definitely had another rep in me but recently I’ve been doing well just taking the progression rather than trying to rush things and it’s been paying dividends. The 90kg was i’m pretty sure a +3 rep PR which is cool. Weighted dips continue to fly up even on this bulk, i’m adding 2.5kg each week and still getting my 10-12. A couple months ago I was scared to even do one bodyweight one because “err mah gawd mah shoulders”, now i’m getting easy reps with 15kg strapped to me.
Also me splitting last weeks upper session had no impact on progression. I continued on the same path.
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That looks a great session!!!
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A tad late to this but this is 100% inexcusable. I’m pretty sure the first thing any medical student is taught is literally do not say “it’s all in your head”
The main issue we have in the UK with healthcare is that the private sector will delay diagnosing and running more tests to make more money while the NHS will just try and get us out of their workload even if it means not helping
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Understanding the digestive system seems to still be in its infancy. When you trawl through health forums, or even youtube and other places where people can be vocal… there are droves of people saying that they’ve been told similar things. It’s super horrible to hear, but I’ve spent 10 years trying to get to the bottom of it, what hope does a GP have when their usual ports of call come up short?
I went in once suggesting it may be SIBO or some other form of overgrowth. I got dismissed instantly and told that it doesn’t exist and to stop reading things online. SIBO has literally been listed on the NHS website since then and is generally accepted everywhere. 
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I thought this too. You’ve never had a full stool work-up to find out then, have you?
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I’ve given samples on two separate occasions. The last was probably around 2017-2018. What a “full” work-up is I don’t know. From what I understand, aren’t anti-biotics sometimes prescribed for it? I did take some when I went on a triple threat thing (omeprazole, anti-biotics and maybe domperidone(?)). I think that’s used for h pylori even though no test ever said that I had it.
25-01-2023
TBDL
200kg x 6 (PR)
180kg x 10
160kg x 12
Neutral chins
13, 10, 8, rest 30secs, 5ish
Leg Press
150kg x 12
150kg x 12
150kg x 12
Leg curls
60kg x 12
60kg x 10
60kg x 10
Chest supported rows
38kg x 11
38kg x 11
38kg x 11 (not great ROM last rep)
My progress has been great these last few months. It’s awesome to hit 200kg for reps and still have more in the tank. No matter how poorly or low I may feel on any given day, the gym can still make me feel like I’m moving forward - I wouldn’t like to think where I’d be without it. It continues to save my mind.
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Have they ever done a hydrogen breath test or small intestine aspirate and fluid culture? For this they would have put a tube down your throat to get fluid from your small intestine. Those are the two main SIBO tests. The stool samples don’t always catch small intestine issues.
Yes, antibiotics are often used along with vitamin/mineral supplementation and diet changes. It’s often not a one-stop shop treatment and it will often return after the course of antibiotics if additional changes aren’t made. So, all that being said, this might be where you’re at now.
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